Repair Instructions for the VOIGTLANDER Bessamatic and Bessamatic DeLuxe

Compact Disk (CD) containing instructions for the repair of the VOIGTLANDER Bessamatic and Bessamatic DeLuxe single-lens reflex cameras. The CD also contains pdf files of Voigtlander catalogs and instruction manauals (see below).

Voigtlander Bessamatic cameras are of high-quality construction and are still capable of first-class results. However, many cameras suffer from age-related problems that make them inoperative or keep them from reaching their full potential.  The most frequent problems encountered with Bessamatic cameras are (sorted roughly in order of occurence):
  1. Film transport/shutter cocking jammed; viewfinder dark.
  2. Shutter opens for viewing, but never opens for taking the picture.
  3. Viewfinder problems: dirt in viewfinder or prism damaged.
  4. Slow speeds too slow or shutter even stays open for slow speed settings (less than 1/25 sec).
  5. Shutter blades slow to close (usually due to a thin film of oil on the blades).
  6. Self-timer slow or sticky.
  7. Exposure meter not functional.
  8. Diaphragm and exposure time setting stiff.
Taking the top of the camera off to get access to the exposure meter and the prism is relatively easy.  Problems 3 and 7 can be handled this way.  It also gives you a first look at the film transport, although the jammed transport is likely due to a shutter or mirror box problem.  Problem 8 is usually fixable with just an access to the front.  Problem 2 is caused by the shutter closing/opening sequence being interrupted by increased friction in the system.   If the increased friction is caused by components in front, then access to the front may suffice to fix Problem 2.

Everything else requires a major dis-assembly of the camera to get access to the shutter.  (Although the shutter is located in front of the camera, due to the way it is mounted, it can only get accessed from the rear.) 

The repair instructions provide a step-by-step illustrated guide to dis-assembly, repair, and reassembly of the Bessamatic and Bessamatic DeLuxe cameras.  They have been written for the amateur who has a limited amount of experience in camera repair.  In addition, the instructions are of great interest to the Bessamatic collector who just wants to learn about the technology of the Bessamatic camera. 

The instructions cover the following topics: 
  • Access to the Front
  • Top Removal
  • Access to the Mirror Box
  • Access to the Synchro-Compur Shutter and Shutter Repair
  • Shutter Reassembly and Adjustment
  • Camera Assembly and Adjustments
  • Special Tools
The repair instructions make good use of modern technology. The text has been written in html, so it can be viewed with a standard web browser (if you can look at this eBay auction you can also view the repair instructions).  Each major step is illustrated with a desktop-size high-resolution image, with the important components marked in the image (for examples, see the pictures above).

The author is a long-time collector of  Voigtlander cameras who has brought a large number of Bessamatic cameras back to life.  In addition to the repair instructions, the CD contains information on the Bessamatic camera system and the instruction manuals for the Bessamatic and Bessamatic DeLuxe in Adobe pdf format.

The repair instruction data files on the CD occupy 125 MegaBytes (195 files in 10 folders).  In addition, the CD contains high-quality pdf files with
  • 46 Voigtlander instruction manuals
  • 13 Pre-WWII Voigtlander catalogs
  • 35 Post-WWII Voigtlander catalogs
(see the last 4 pictures to get an idea for what is included).

Buyer to pay actual USPS shipping cost (no handling fee). Estimated shipping weight is 3 ounces.

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I would be happy to combine several items in one shipment to reduce shipping costs. Happy bidding!